Department for Transport

Railways: North of England

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of introducing Driver-Only Operation on delays and train dispatch times on the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry: The Department is considering the option of specifying that, where appropriate, drivers take on the job of opening and closing the train doors on the Northern Rail and Transpenine Express franchises, as happens on many other parts of the railway, but no decision has yet been taken. This would have the potential to reduce delays by shortening dwell time at platforms and mitigate the risk of delay or cancellation due to conductor unavailability.

Northern Rail

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many stations at which Northern Rail services stop are currently (a) staffed and (b) unstaffed.

Claire Perry: Northern serve 527 stations, of which they operate 467. Of those 527 stations, 196 are staffed, 331 are unstaffed.

Railways: North of England

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to include in his Department's contract with the successful bidder for Northern Rail and Transpennine Express franchises a requirement that there is a second person on board the train in addition to the driver in the event of the introduction of driver-only operation.

Claire Perry: The Department does not specify the numbers of staff or how they should be deployed as this is something that the operators are much better placed to manage and understand. The Department is considering the option of specifying that, where appropriate, drivers take on the job of opening and closing the train doors on the Northern Rail and Transpenine Express franchises, as happens on many other parts of the railway. Our approach is to assess the bids we receive to ensure they adequately provide for passengers to be able to purchase tickets, have access to appropriate service information and feel safe and secure on trains.

Home Office

Criminal Investigation: Cyprus

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements are in place for UK police forces to investigate criminal suspects in Northern Cyprus.

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what dates officers in Staffordshire police force travelled to Northern Cyprus in connection with the investigation into John Anslow's escape from lawful custody; and which airport these officers flew (a) into and (b) out of on those visits.

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what airports police officers investigating the escape of John Anslow used on their (a) outward and (b) inward bound flights to Cyprus in 2013.

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria must be met before a police officer is permitted to travel abroad to investigate people suspected of criminal offences in their force's area.

Mike Penning: Holding answer received on 05 January 2015



The UK does not recognise the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus." There are no arrangements in place for police forces in England and Wales to investigate criminal suspects in the northern part of Cyprus. It would be inappropriate to comment on any matter relating to this case as this is the subject of ongoing UK-based court appeals. Decisions to deploy police officers abroad to investigate criminal offences are operational matters for chief officers and the relevant authorities involved.

Asylum

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have (a) applied and (b) successfully resettled in the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme to date; what the origin was of each applicant; which local authorities are participating in the scheme; and what the cost of the scheme has been to date.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Animal Experiments

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 25 February 2014, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA239, how many organisms of which species have been generated following pronuclear transfer by researchers at Newcastle in each year of the last decade according to records held by her Department.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Religious Hatred

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the incidence of hate crimes against religious minorities.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government takes all forms of hate crime very seriously. We deplore all religious and racially motivated attacks. The Government’s action plan on hate crime brings together the activities of government departments, who work with local agencies, voluntary organisations and the independent advisory group to meet three main objectives:• preventing hate crime happening by challenging the attitudes and behaviours that foster hatred, and encouraging early intervention to reduce the risk of incidents escalating;• increasing the reporting of hate crime that occurs by building victims’ confidence to come forward and seek justice, and working with partners at national and local level to ensure the right support is available when they do;• working with the agencies that make up the criminal justice system to improve the operational response to hate crime. We want a more effective end-to-end process, with agencies identifying hate crimes early, managing cases jointly and dealing with offenders robustly.The progress report that was published in May last year provides both an overview of achievements and case study examples, which demonstrate how work is being carried out locally. It also highlights areas that have evolved since the action plan was launched, and what is being done to deal with risks that have emerged. The report has previously been placed in the House of CommonsLibrary.It is vital that the police engage effectively with communities and respond to increases in hate crime. Police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were issued with guidance in 2014 on dealing with hate crimes, which includes advice on responding to incidents and how to monitor and deal with community tensions. We are encouraging anyone who is a victim of a hate crime or subject to religion or race-related abuse or attack to report the incident to the police, so that the offenders can be dealt with appropriately.We have also worked with organisations, including Show Racism the Red Card, the Anne Frank Trust and the Jewish Museum to raise awareness of prejudice with children and young people, to prevent hate crime from happening in the first place.

Vetting

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the average length of time each police force has taken to return Disclosure and Barring Service checks since 2010.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Firearms: Seized Articles

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal firearms were confiscated by UK customs officials at border checks in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Police: Firearms

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken for firearms units to arrive at crime scenes was in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department last reviewed the adequacy of the firearms unit provision made available to police forces in the UK.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department last reviewed the adequacy of the response times of firearms units.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times armed police were deployed in the UK in each of the last five years.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not hold information on response times by firearms units. Decisions on firearms unit provision is a matter for individual Chief Officers. Chief Officers will assess the threat, risk and geography in their force area to ensure that they have sufficient armed capability to respond effectively. Following the terrorist attacks in Paris, to be absolutely sure that we have the right number of officers, with the rights skills and equipment, in the right places, we are working with police to review the arrangements for responding to terrorist firearms attacks. Statistics on police use of firearms in England and Wales are published on an annual basis by the Home Office. The most recent publication was on 27 March 2014. The statistics can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-use-of-firearms-statistics

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Boko Haram

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to assist the Nigerian and Cameroon governments in combating Boko Haram.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK is working with international partners, including the US and France, to support Nigeria and its neighbours, including Cameroon, in their fight against Boko Haram. The UK is providing a substantial package of UK military, intelligence and development support and expertise to Nigeria, including tactical training and capacity building support to the Nigerian armed forces. We are also working with the United Nations, European Union and International Committee of the Red Cross to support the large number of people displaced by the conflict.Ministerial meetings in Paris, London and Abuja last year brought together international and regional partners to help Nigeria and its neighbours implement measures to tackle Boko Haram. The Right Hon Stephen O’Brien MP (Special Rep for the Sahel) attended the follow-up meeting on security in Nigeria on 20 January in Niamey, Niger where further discussion took place on improving regional cooperation to tackle the Boko Haram threat.

Boko Haram

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is offering to Nigeria to tackle Boko Haram.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK is working with international partners, including the US and France, to support Nigeria and its neighbours, in their fight against Boko Haram. The UK is providing a substantial package of UK military, intelligence and development support and expertise to Nigeria, including tactical training and capacity building support to the Nigerian armed forces. We are also working with the United Nations, European Union and the International Committee of the Red Cross to support the large number of people displaced by the conflict. Ministerial meetings in Paris, London and Abuja last year brought together international and regional partners to help Nigeria and its neighbours implement measures to tackle Boko Haram. The Right Hon Stephen O’Brien MP (Special Rep for the Sahel) attended the follow-up meeting on security in Nigeria on 20 January in Niamey, Niger where further discussion took place on improving regional cooperation to tackle the Boko Haram threat.

Boko Haram

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to address the activities of Boko Haram.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK is working with international partners, including the US and France, to support Nigeria and its neighbours, in their fight against Boko Haram. The UK is providing a substantial package of UK military, intelligence and development support and expertise to Nigeria, including tactical training and capacity building support to the Nigerian armed forces. We are also working with the United Nations, European Union and the International Committee of the Red Cross to support the large number of people displaced by the conflict.Ministerial meetings in Paris, London and Abuja last year brought together international and regional partners to help Nigeria and its neighbours implement measures to tackle Boko Haram. The Right Hon Stephen O’Brien MP (Special Rep for the Sahel) attended the follow-up meeting on security in Nigeria on 20 January in Niamey, Niger where further discussion took place on improving regional cooperation to tackle the Boko Haram threat.

Colombia

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict regarding sexual violence in Colombia; and what assistance the Government has offered to Colombia since the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict has provided the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), with a number of progress updates since the Global Summit as well as suggestions for additional areas of engagement and political support. The Colombian government’s efforts internationally and at home have demonstrated a clear commitment to tackling sexual violence. There is still more to do and the UK is supporting three projects in Colombia through the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative:1. Our Embassy is working with two non-government organisations (NGOs), LIMPAL and Casa Amazonia, to directly support survivors of sexual violence, train women’s organisations and connect them to government authorities.2. We are working with DeJusticia and the Attorney General’s Office to train prosecutors to investigate sexual violence in armed conflict, in support of efforts to develop new national standards for investigation and prosecution.3. We are working with NGO Casa de la Mujer to adapt and implement in Colombia the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict (launched at the June Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict), with pilots in two municipalities of the Pacific coast most affected by the armed conflict and with high incidence of sexual violence.In 2015 we will continue working with civil society, the Colombian government and the international community to support and empower victims and to increase their access to justice. The Embassy will hold an event during the first week of February to support the campaign against sexual violence Survivors United for Action, lead by Jineth Bedoya, one of Colombia’s most respected leaders on this theme.

Cabinet Office

Unemployment

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of recent trends in the number of workless households in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) England.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Workless Households
(PDF Document, 165.23 KB)

Jobseeker's Allowance

David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people left jobseeker's allowance because they reached the state pension age in each of the last three years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Pension Age
(PDF Document, 148.28 KB)

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Science: Finance

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution to the economy of the investment in science announced in the Autumn Statement 2014; and what steps he plans to take to maximise that contribution.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 19 January 2015



The Department published a summary of the evidence around the potential contribution to the economy of its investment in science alongside the Science and Innovation Strategy that was published in December. In addition we announced new funding for specific projects which will boost the contribution of our science investments to the wider economy.

Arms Trade

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to publish the results of his call for evidence on the introduction of a pre-licensing register of arms brokers together with the Government's response in January 2015 at the latest.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

EU External Trade: USA

Mr David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Council of the European Union will act by unanimity or qualified majority when adopting decisions authorising the EU's (a) signature and, if relevant, provisional application and (b) conclusions of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Aerial Photography

Mr James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to replace the Ordnance Survey's aerial photography programme with the licensing of such photographs from other agencies and businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

EU External Trade: USA

Mr David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Council of the European Union acted by unanimity or qualified majority when adopting the negotiating directives for the EU for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Aerial Photography

Mr James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the cost was of the Ordnance Survey's aerial photography programme in each of the last five years; and if he will make an estimate of the potential annual cost of licensing such photographs from other agencies and businesses.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Renewable Energy

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost of the Electricity Intensive Industries - Relief from the Cost of Renewables scheme.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Electricity: Industry

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information his Department holds on which industrial sectors reach the preliminary threshold of seven per cent electricity intensity, but in which a majority of businesses do not meet the added 20 per cent electricity intensity threshold.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Nigeria

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the effect has been of changes in the security situation and displacement of people following recent attacks by Boko Haram on UK Government-funded programmes for education in northern Nigeria.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK has provided £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver food, safe water, clothes, shelter material and other basic necessities to those people displaced following attacks by Boko Haram.   A further £1 million of UK funding is committed to the Nigerian Government’s “Safe Schools Initiative” to help protect children at school in North East Nigeria and provide schooling to children displaced by the violence. The UK has also contributed £1.7 million to the UN’s and EU’s relief efforts.

Developing Countries: Malaria

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government is taking to combat the spread of drug-resistant malaria.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID has a portfolio of investment and action across all five pillars of the World Health Organisation’s Global Plan for Artemisinin Resistance Containment, through our bilateral, multilateral and research support in Africa and Asia. This includes support to programmes that aim to replace artemisinin monotherapy with artemisinin combination therapy in the private sector in Burma; the Tracking Resistance to Artemisinin Collaboration (TRAC) research programme; financial support to an Asian Development Bank programme in South-East Asia, which aims to strengthen regional political leadership and ownership of the issue; and to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria’s regional Artemisinin Resistance Initiative.   DFID is also working with the World Health Organisation and other donors to develop strategies to investigate the most effective ways to identify resistance and contain the spread.

International Assistance

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department will ensure that Parliament is given adequate opportunity for effective scrutiny of the positions taken by the EU in the post-2015 sustainable development goals process.

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what development issues and goal area she expects will be led by individual EU member states in the post-2015 sustainable development goals process; and whether the UK will lead on any of these development issues or goal areas.

Justine Greening: There are ongoing discussions in Brussels and New York regarding the composition of the EU team and what role individual EU member states will play.

Sierra Leone

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) female and (b) male burial operatives have been recruited (i) from the UK and (ii) from Sierra Leone to burial teams as part of her Department's response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone.

Justine Greening: The UK is supporting the training and management of over 100 burial teams. DFID does not retain specific data on the total number of burial operatives in Sierra Leone.

West Africa: Ebola

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has provided any financial support towards the opening of Médecins Sans Frontières' maternity clinic for Ebola sufferers.

Justine Greening: DFID has not provided funding for the Médecins Sans Frontières run Ebola maternity clinic. However DFID has provided £750,000 for management of Ebola Treatment Centres in Kailahun in Sierra Leone, and in Monrovia and Foya county in Liberia.

Sierra Leone

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to target the increased contraction rate of Ebola amongst women in Sierra Leone; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: Data from the World Health Organisation indicates that there appears to be little difference in the incidence of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) infection by sex. However the Ebola outbreak has exacerbated the situation for those who were already vulnerable, including girls and women. The UK has therefore developed a Protection Strategy to ensure that action is taken to reduce the risk of transmission to these groups, and to mitigate the secondary impacts that they face.

West Africa: Ebola

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding from her Department has been assigned to Ebola vaccine candidate and safety testing; how much of that funding has been spent in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015 to date; and what steps she is taking to ensure that vaccine candidates funded by her Department are safe for use by pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Justine Greening: Alongside the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, DFID has assigned up to £2m for Phase 1 trials of the GlaxoSmithKline Ebola vaccine candidate. There have been no disbursements of funding to date.   The GSK vaccine has now been tested on healthy people without any significant side effects. Additional data will come from phase 2 and 3 trials. In line with standard practice for vaccine trials, the protocols exclude pregnant and breastfeeding women. This group would therefore not be included in any initial rollout.

West Africa: Ebola

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) female and (b) male patients have been treated for Ebola in each treatment centre funded by her Department.

Justine Greening: The six UK-constructed Ebola Treatment Centres have admitted 620 patients as of 21 January 2015. Of these, 331 were women and 289 were men.

Department for Education

Education: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2015 to Question 220450, what steps her Department can take in the case of adequate improvements not being made at one of the schools in question.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2015 to Question 220450, who will assess whether improvement at the schools in question is adequate; and when that assessment will be made.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2015 to Question 220450, how her Department can detail the input of challenging the schools in question.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2015 to Question 220450, for how long her Department expects to work closely with each of the schools in question.

Mr Edward Timpson: In Tameside and Stockport the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) and officials continue to work closely with the academies where we have concerns to tackle underperformance and bring about rapid improvements. In Tameside, the RSC has been involved with one trust in the recruitment of new senior leaders including a School Improvement Director. The Department has also provided initial development funding to this trust so that they can source further support from the North West Teaching Schools Alliance. Both the RSC and officials are monitoring progress closely and will meet the trust again in February 2015 to discuss progress. For the other academies in Tameside and Stockport where we have concerns the RSC and officials are already in discussions with the trusts about sponsorship arrangements. We will not hesitate to intervene in academies where rapid, sustainable improvements are not being made and RSCs have a range of interventions at their disposal. These interventions include: challenging the trust, facilitating partnerships with higher performing schools, reviewing sponsorship arrangements and seeking an alternative sponsor solution where we do not believe an existing trust has the capacity to make improvements. More formal interventions can include a pre-warning notice or warning notice, an alternative sponsor solution or ultimately terminating the funding agreement. The performance is closely monitored via departmental officials. Officials continue to work closely with the trust and the governing body to provide challenge on the issues in question. Monitoring can include follow up visits to the school and monitoring progress via a scorecard.   The RSC in this case and departmental officials, on his behalf, will continue to work closely with the academy and its academy trust until such time as we are confident that the school is on a sustained upward trajectory.

Teachers: Qualifications

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of primary school teachers in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Warrington have a degree in (i) English and (ii) mathematics.

Mr David Laws: The following table provides the headcount number and proportion of all regular teachers in service in primary schools in England, the North West and Warrington with a degree in English and mathematics in November 2013. This is the latest information available.  Number of Teacherswith relevantDegree[1]Total Number of Teacherswhere Qualifications are Recorded[2]Percentage with a relevant Degree1 Confidence Interval[3]Percentage of Teachers where QualificationsAre Recorded(i) EnglishEngland24,650227,51310.8+/-0.195.5North West3,63230,09712.1+/-0.495.6Warrington10996911.2+/-2.098.0(ii) MathematicsEngland4,278227,5131.9+/-0.195.5North West70930,0972.4+/-0.295.6Warrington279692.8+/-1.098.0  Source: School Workforce Census  [1] Includes teachers with a first or higher English or mathematics degree but excludes those with an English or mathematics PGCE where no record of an English or mathematics degree exists and those with a BEd in English or mathematics.[2] Those recorded with a qualification (degree or higher, Bachelor of Education, Post-Graduate Certificate in Education Certificate in Education, other qualification at NVQ level 4 or higher, relevant non-UK qualification) in any subject (the total in the sample from which the rate is calculated).[3] The range within which we can be 95% confident that the true value exists.

Children: Day Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there are circumstances in which, where parents have twins, each child is entitled to less than the standard allocation of 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.

Mr Sam Gyimah: All three- and four-year-olds and any two-year-olds who meet the eligibility criteria are entitled to a Government funded early education place of 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. There are no circumstances when parents with twins who are both eligible for a funded place would be entitled to receive fewer hours of funded early education.

Public Expenditure

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 128 of her Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14, HC 745, what the reasons are for the increase in the cost of other office services since the previous financial year.

Mr Nick Gibb: The Department for Education reported £1,179 million for ‘other office expenditure’ in its 2013-14 accounts, an increase of £672.6 million compared to 2012-13. The expenditure disclosed relates exclusively to the Department’s academy trusts and is sourced from the academy trusts’ own accounts. The increase arises for two reasons, the first being the growth in academy numbers since 2012-13 (an increase of 1082 academies since March 2013 to 3905 in March 2014). Secondly, academy trust costs are reported slightly differently in the Department’s 2012-13 and 2013-14 accounts. This is not unusual; we have only consolidated accounts for two years and we are working at improving the transparency of expenditure. For example, some costs reported under the caption ‘other expenditure’ in 2012-13 have now been included under the heading ‘other office expenditure’ in 2013-14.

Public Expenditure

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the reasons were for the cash losses, fruitless payments and write-offs worth more than £100,000 referred to on page 156 of her Department's Annual Report and Accounts, 2013-14, HC 745.

Mr Nick Gibb: There are three instances of individual losses over £100,000: St. Aldhelm’s Academy, £1.21 million: as disclosed in the Department’s accounts, the academy trust suffered a loss as a result of a misdirection of a payment into the wrong bank account. The loss has not been recovered and a police investigation is in hand. Oasis Community School Walthamstow, £138,000: the free school project was stopped before opening, but had already incurred unrecoverable costs. Chorley Career and Sixth Form Academy, £129,554: another free school project, was also stopped before opening, but had already incurred unrecoverable costs.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital funding has been provided to each pupil in state (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Surrey (A) in cash terms  and (B) at 2015 prices in each year since 2005.

Mr David Laws: Average per pupil revenue funding figures for Surrey are given below. With the introduction of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) in 2006-07, the changes to the funding mechanism meant figures were no longer available to be shown split by phase of education. Figures for financial years 2005 to 2013 are shown below. These are in cash terms: Average revenue per pupil funding (cash)2005-06 (baseline)2006-072007-082008-092009-102010-112011-122012-13Surrey local authority (LA)3,7003,9404,2104,3904,6004,8604,8004,800   The below figures are in real terms using December 2014 gross domestic product (GDP) deflators in 2013-14 prices: Average revenue per pupil funding (real)2005-06 (baseline)2006-072007-082008-092009-102010-112011-122012-13Surrey LA4,4604,6304,8004,8905,0005,1304,9804,910   The per pupil figures use the sum of DSG allocations plus other schools related grants, such as the school standards grant, the school standards grant (personalisation) and the standards fund; divided by total pupils aged 3-15 and then rounded to the nearest £10. Most of the additional grants were mainstreamed into DSG in 2011-12. The changes to DSG funding in financial year 2013-14, with funding allocated through three blocks; ‘schools’, ‘early years’ and ‘high needs’, mean that there is no longer a comparable overall figure with previous years. The table below shows the DSG schools block unit funding figures in cash and real terms for Surrey LA. DSG schools block per pupil funding2013-20142014-2015Surrey LA (cash)4,0964,096Surrey LA (real)*4,0964,012 *Real terms figures shown in 2013-14 prices using GDP deflators at 23.12.14   Since 2011-12 schools have received the pupil premium which targets funding at pupils from the most deprived backgrounds to help them achieve their full potential. In 2011-12, the premium was allocated for each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM), looked after children and children of parents in the armed services. In 2012-13 coverage was expanded to include pupils known to have been eligible for FSM at any point in the last six years. The per-pupil amounts for each type of pupil are shown in following table in cash terms:   Pupil premium per pupil (£)2011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015Free school meal pupil primary£488£623£953£1300Free school meal pupil secondary£488£623£900£935Service children£200£250£300£300Looked after children£488£623£900£1900* *Also includes children adopted from care   Total pupil premium allocations for Surrey local authority for each year are shown in the following table in cash terms: Pupil premium allocations (£ millions)2011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015Surrey5.94412.65820.16426.777   The below figures are in real terms: Pupil premium allocations (£ millions)2011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015Surrey6.16812.92720.16426.226 Price Base: real terms at 2013-14 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 23.12.2014   The table below shows capital funding for the financial years that are available. The data is in cash terms as allocations are phased across more than one year making real terms calculations meaningless. Complete information on the split of capital between phases of education is not held centrally. Surrey YearCapital allocations (£ millions)2005-0651.62006-0742.22007-0848.72008-0974.62009-1072.52010-1161.72011-1259.92012-1366.32013-1455.22014-15 (prov.)66.6   Notes: 1. Capital allocations includes capital grant and supported borrowing allocations. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest £100,000. 3. Funding in 2014-15 is still subject to project progress and is therefore subject to change.

Ministry of Justice

Sentencing: Bradford

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2014 to Question 214963, what the (a) actual offence charged, (b) number of previous convictions, (c) number of previous knife crime convictions, (d) age of the offender, (e) other offences were charged and sentenced at the same time and (f) other information which formed part of the sentencing decision was in each case at Bradford Crown Court for which an immediate custodial sentence was not handed down.

Simon Hughes: It has not been possible to answer these questions within the time available. I will write to my honourable friend in due course and a copy of the response will be placed in the Library.

Police Cautions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2014 to Question 214936, how many such cautions were issued in each police force area.

Simon Hughes: Further to my answer to Question 214936 of 25 November 2014, information those offenders cautioned for sexual activity with a child under 13 in England and Wales from 2009 to 2013 by police force area can be viewed in the table below. This data can also be sourced, via the creation of pivot tables, from information which is in the public domain as part of the Criminal Justice Statistics annual publication, in the table “Cautions by police force area”. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-december-2013 Police Force areas are covered in column A and offences (sexual activity with a child under 13 is offence number 21) is in column J. When manipulating these data, please bear in mind the footnotes in the table apply here too. All sexual offences are abhorrent and the Government is clear that serious criminals should always face the courts, where judges have tough sentencing measures available to them. We have changed the rules to stop cautions being given for serious offences and have unveiled plans to scrap their use completely. This proposed new system will see cautions replaced with a system of tougher sanctions designed to make sure offenders face direct consequences for carrying out even minor crimes. People have to be able to have confidence in our justice system and serious offenders should not be getting cautions. Under this Government, more sex offenders are going to jail and for longer.



Offenders cautioned for sexual activity with child
(Excel SpreadSheet, 30.5 KB)

Prerogative of Mercy

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his policy to publish the names of people in England and Wales where the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been used.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been used in England and Wales in the last 20 years for which information is available.

Simon Hughes: There are no statutory requirements relating to the publication of pardons granted under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy. However, by convention, the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery places a notice of free pardons granted in England and Wales in the London Gazette. In the past 20 years, only two free pardons were granted by Her Majesty the Queen in England in 2009 and 2014 respectively. I am not aware of any other pardons (by use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy) that have been granted in the UK. However, with regard to Remission Pardons for England & Wales no records are held for the period prior to 1 February 2013; since that time the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has not been exercised.

Prisons: Publications

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many books were received by his Department during December 2014 as part of the books for prisoners campaign; and where those books were distributed.

Simon Hughes: 377 books were donated in December 2014 and we are in the process of arranging for them to be sent to a prison library. Books which have been donated previously were sent to HMP Pentonville and HMP East Sutton Park. In accordance with national policy, all of the books are searched before being made available to the library service. The books will be available for any prisoner at the relevant establishments to borrow and will be formally donated to the library service.

Legal Representation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of defendants who represented themselves in court in each year since May 2010.

Simon Hughes: I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer provided to the right honourable member for Tooting, which can be found at:http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2014-10-21/211297/. I will write to the Honourable Member with the information requested, which is being assembled to answer to this earlier question.

Ministry of Defence

RAF Akrotiri

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2014 to Question 217721, when the catering arrangements were extended to assist with Op SHADER; what choices were in place on 4 December 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2014 to Question 217721, whether personnel deployed on Operation Shader received hot meals at Crown expense before 4 December 2014.

Mr Mark Francois: The catering arrangements for personnel deployed on OP SHADER who are based at Akrotiri are set out below: · from 8 August 2014, deployed personnel were fed three meals per day in the respective messes, there was no requirement for duty meals; then in addition to three daily mess meals: · from 10 August 2014 personnel were provided with packed meals to eat while on duty; · from 13 August 2014 a duty meal was provided between 2100 and 2300 in the Junior Ranks dining facility; · since 21 October 2014 a duty meal has been provided at 2300 at the place of work. On 4 December 2014, those deployed on OP SHADER had the following food choices: · for breakfast from 0600 to 0830: a choice from an English-style breakfast, assorted cereals and milk; · for lunch from 1230 to 1430: five hot meal options, a salad bar, a selection of sandwiches, assorted confectionary, hot and cold drinks; · for dinner from 1630 to 1930: five hot meal options, seven side dishes, a salad bar, four desert options, assorted confectionary, hot and cold drinks; · for the duty meal at 2300: at the place of work two or three hot options from the lunch or dinner menu, a choice of sandwiches, fruit, hot and cold drinks.  All of these meals are provided at Crown expense.

Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2015 to Question 219665, how many (a) members of the Libyan General Purpose Force, (b) members of the UK training team and (c) Libyan trainees took part in each of the visits listed; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The numbers of training and cultural visits undertaken while the Libyan General Purpose Force (GPF) were training at Bassingbourn is shown in the table below. Records of visits to a local supermarket were not kept in this format but from 15 August 2014 between 80 and 90 GPF personnel, in groups of around 10 in number were allowed local weekly shopping trips escorted by two members of the UK training team. Shopping trips to Cambridge were a less regular occurrence and took place between exercises. An estimated 80% of GPF personnel visited Cambridge accompanied by UK training team members on a ratio of 10 to one.  Type of visit/venueDateNumber of attending GPF personnelNumber of accompanying UK trainersExercise   Stanford Training Area (Norfolk)7 August 20149518 10 August 2014316 11 August 20148212 14 August 20148312 27-31 October 20146318Salisbury Plain Training Area (Salisbury)10 August 201411318 11 August 201416318 14 August 201416618Lydd Ranges (Kent)2-9 October 201423855Longmore Training Camp20-24 October 201423955Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (Camberley)16 September 20141610Cultural/Historical   Houses of Parliament04 July 2014*4010 11 July 2014*4010 18 July 2014*4010Guards Museum15 July 2014*3010 20 July 2014*3010 29 July 2014*3010Household Cavalry Museum15 July 2014*3010 20 July 2014*3010 29 July 2014*3010Downing St04 July 2014*4010 11 July 2014*4010 18 July 2014*4010Wellington Barracks15 July 2014*3010 20 July 2014*3010 29 July 2014*3010Foot Guards Museum15 July 2014*3010 20 July 2014*3010 29 July 2014*3010Household Cavalry Museum15 July 2014*3010 20 July 2014*3010 29 July 2014*3010Buckingham Palace15 July 2014*3010 20 July 2014*3010 29 July 2014*3010Duxford Air Museum24 September 2014*24055 * Each number shown represents the maximum number, precise numbers may have varied on the day.

Armed Forces: Injuries

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average length of time taken by Veterans UK and its predecessors to deal with cases relating to (a) war disablement pensions and (b) compensation for injuries or illness incurred during service in the armed forces was in each year since 2010.

Anna Soubry: The average length of time taken by Veterans UK and its predecessors to deal with War Disablement Pensions (WDP) and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claims are detailed in the table below:  Average Processing Time (Working Days) 2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-151AFCS9312516410989WDP395182110104 Note:1As at 31 December 2014

Submarines

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy have sufficient submarine detection capabilities.

Anna Soubry: The UK Armed Forces have an internationally highly regarded and multi-layered submarine detection capability, primarily delivered through a combination of surface ships, submarines and anti-submarine helicopters, alongside close co-ordination and co-operation with our allies. As the global environment and threat capabilities constantly evolve, we continue to develop new detection capabilities in order to maintain our operational advantage.These capabilities are subject to regular audit and analysis. The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 will afford us the opportunity to review the full spectrum of submarine detection capability, including fixed wing Maritime Patrol Aircraft utility.I am withholding further details of our capabilities and programmes as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2015 to Questions 220492 and 220493, how many of the surveillance and monitoring activities resulted in (a) the withdrawal of a claim for compensation and (b) the disclosure of the monitoring and surveillance in court; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: Records of the outcome of individual claims for damages are not maintained in a way which facilitates identification of those subject to surveillance and monitoring activities. From anecdotal evidence it is believed that over the period from 2008 to 2014 there were no instances which resulted in a claim being withdrawn, and there were no cases where such evidence was disclosed in court; but there were a number of cases where surveillance or monitoring indicated that claimants were exaggerating the extent of their disability, resulting in payment of damages in line with their true loss.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2015 to Questions 220492 and 220493, how many of the surveillance and monitoring activities involved claimants who had (a) sustained injuries on active service, (b) amputations, (c) mental health problems and (d) traumatic brain injuries; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The numbers of surveillance and monitoring activities undertaken between 2008 and 2014 relating to the injuries in question are given below. Number of surveillance and monitoring activitiesInjuries on active service9Amputation0Mental health problems1Traumatic brain injuries0

Tornado Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's Tornado jets (a) are in service, (b) are in the forward fleet and (c) have the Honeywell Traffic Collision Avoidance System II installed.

Mr Philip Dunne: The number of Tornado aircraft in the in-service and forward fleets is given below, together with the number of Tornado aircraft fitted with the Honeywell Traffic Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS).The TCAS capability embodied to date incorporates a Traffic Advisory capability which warns aircrew of a potential collision threat. In-Service FleetForward FleetFitted with TCAS100588

Department for Work and Pensions

Winter Fuel Payments

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that UK pensioners living in France receive winter fuel payments when the temperature where they live is below freezing.

Steve Webb: Winter Fuel Payments are intended to give older people in the UK reassurance that they can keep warm during cold weather. Winter Fuel Payments are payable to UK pensioners in France, however this will end from September 2015. Winter Fuel Payments are not triggered by temperature either in the UK or abroad.

Separated People

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether an external evaluator has been appointed to provide an independent assessment of the 17 Innovation Fund projects set up under the Help for Separated Families initiative to establish what works in assisting separated parents to co-operate in the interests of their children; when it is planned that that evaluation process will take place; and when it is planned that that evaluation report will be published.

Steve Webb: One of two evaluation partners has been appointed and we are in the process of appointing the second. Evaluation data continues to be collected by all of the live projects and this data will be analysed and interpreted by our independent evaluator throughout the duration of their contract into 2016. Results will be published after all projects have ended delivery and the external evaluator has completed their follow up work and analysis.

Winter Fuel Payments

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer to Question 220107, if he will make it his policy to exclude French Overseas Departments in the calculation of average temperature for France for the purposes of determining eligibility for winter fuel payments to UK citizens.

Steve Webb: It is the French Government that defines itself as the mainland and its outermost regions, and as such are included in the EU social security co-ordination regulations, used and applied by all member states. It is because of this that the French Overseas Departments (départments d’outre mer or DOMs) are treated in the same way as mainland France with regard to Winter Fuel Payments, which are currently made to those entitled who live there. Therefore, the hotter French Overseas Departments have to be included in the calculation of the average temperature of France. We are being consistent with our policy approach.

Innovation Fund

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Youth Unemployment Innovation Fund.

Esther McVey: The Innovation Fund is being independently evaluated and the findings will be published as soon as they are available. The first qualitative research findings were published in June 2014 and found that the Innovation Fund had successfully identified and engaged some of the most disadvantaged young people in society. Interim impact assessment findings will be published in the summer of 2015. We also publish quarterly Official Statistics and those show that things are progressing well, with 15,400 young people starting participation on Innovation Fund Projects up to the end of September 2014, (which is an increase of 2,700 from March 2014), and 16,600 positive outcomes achieved up to end of September 2014 (which represents an increase of 5,400 from March 2014).

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the principal risks are which his Department has identified with respect to the national rollout of universal credit in 2015.

Mr Mark Harper: In delivering the plans for Universal Credit, the Programme follows industry-standard risk management processes, through a number of governance and assurance boards, as part of the wider Departmental risk management framework. These protocols focus on managing the cumulative impact of risks on our plans for delivery. The over-arching plans for delivering Universal Credit have been assured by the Major Projects Authority (MPA) and are subject to ongoing assessment.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the approach of Work Programme providers to benefit sanctions referrals is consistent.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the consistency between different Work Programme providers of procedures on referrals for benefit sanctions.

Esther McVey: Sanctions are a necessary part of the benefits system, but they are used as a last resort in a tiny percentage of cases where people don’t play by the rules. There are no targets for sanctions and in fact there were fewer sanctions this year compared to last year. We also have a well-established system of hardship payments for benefit claimants who have little or no other resources available to them. DWP has put in place a comprehensive monitoring regime to ensure that sanctions are always and only applied where appropriate to do so. The majority of claimants become fully engaged in Work Programme activities that will give best prospects of employment that lead to a job without the possibility of having a sanction imposed through non-compliance with a mandatory activity. Improvements specifically aimed at improving consistency in sanction referrals have included the introduction of Provider Direct. This service provides information that enables providers to make an informed decision as to whether they need to raise a sanction doubt or not. We have also introduced improvements to the way Jobcentre Plus and Providers communicate information by providing single points of contact for queries and referrals.

Social Security Benefits

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of (a) pension credit, (b) winter fuel allowance and (c) Christmas Bonus there were in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland.

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of (a) pension credit, (b) winter fuel allowance and (c) Christmas bonus there were in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available in (i) Airdrie and Shotts constituency and (ii) North Lanarkshire.

Steve Webb: Latest available statistics for Pension Credit recipients in Great Britain are published on the Department’s website at: http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/pc/tabtool_pc.html Guidance for users is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance Latest available statistics for Winter Fuel Payments in Great Britain are published on the Department’s website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/winter-fuel-payments-caseload-and-household-figures Available statistics for Christmas bonus payments are in the table Recipients of Christmas Bonus(*) by Geographical Area (Thousands)  All (GB and Overseas)Airdrie and ShottsNorth LanarkshireEnglandScotlandWales2013/1415,468228412,7771,3518582012/1315,586228512,8731,3708702011/1215,547238612,8411,3748762010/1115,466238612,7731,3738782009/1015,370238712,6931,374878 (*) To get a Christmas Bonus a person must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland during the qualifying week.  Responsibility for these benefits in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive Minister for Social Development.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how long she plans that the consultation for the 2015 review of the Greyhound Regulations (England) 2010 will take.

George Eustice: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 January 2015 to Parliamentary Questions 220577 and 220578.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Private Rented Housing: Construction

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funds his Department has allocated to the Build to Rent scheme; and how much has been lent under that scheme to date.

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) developments and (b) homes have (i) been started and (ii) been completed under the Build to Rent scheme since the start of that scheme.

Brandon Lewis: The Build to Rent fund provides development finance to support the creation of a purpose-built private rented sector, backed by institutional investment. The fund is market- led and the response has been strong. By December 2014, contracts to the value of £177 million had been agreed, to deliver over 2,000 homes. Almost 600 homes had already started on five schemes, with 129 completions at this very early stage in the programme. By March 2015, we estimate contracts will have been agreed up to the value of £819 million, delivering over 8,300 homes, followed by up to a further £246 million worth of deals (for over 2,100 homes) to be agreed during 2015.We estimate that the Fund will this year be committed in full, and I can confirm that the programme is on course to meet our 10,000 homes target. The hon. Member will no doubt try to nit-pick with the success of this novel and ground-breaking scheme, given the Labour Party seeks to oppose every single scheme we have to build new homes. But I would observe that the Labour Party’s plans for excessive red tape and new regulation on the private rented sector would scare away institutional investment and cut spending on new build rented homes.

Community Relations

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 15 December 2014, Official Report, column 1116, what the (a) name is of and (b) amounts of money are received by each of the integration projects funded by the £45 million spent by his Department since 2010.

Stephen Williams: Holding answer received on 05 January 2015



The £45 million figure relates to spending during the 2011-15 Spending Review period. There was not an explicit integration programme in 2010-11. I refer the rt. hon. Member to the comprehensive Written Minister Statement of 18 December 2014, Official Report, Column 110-118WS, and to my written answer of 15 January 2015, Question UIN 219486, which provided a breakdown of expenditure on the integration projects and activities which were included in the Written Ministerial Statement.

Community Relations

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Oral Answer of 15 December 2014, Official Report, column 1116, what (a) the name is of and (b) amount of money is received by each of the 29 projects his Department is supporting in 2014.

Stephen Williams: Holding answer received on 05 January 2015



I refer the rt. hon. Member to my answer of 15 January 2015, Question UIN 219486.

Housing: Greater London

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for how many units of housing planning permission has been granted on sites in London classed as on hold or shelved; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 08 January 2015



In my answer of 30 October 2014, Question UIN 207630, I noted how this Government had taken a series of steps to get stalled sites building, steadily reducing the number of permissions which were “on hold/shelved” across England from 90,331 in September 2011 to 48,000 in September 2014. These figures demolished the myth propagated by HM Opposition that there are 400,000 homes with planning permission not being built because of ‘land banking’. As of December 2014, estimates by Glenigan indicate that this figure has fallen further to 45,000 across England (of which, 10,000 are in London). This is at a time when the number of planning permissions has steadily risen, with 240,000 homes in England receiving planning permission in the last 12 months. The Government’s long-term economic plan is working and turning around the mess and recession left by the last Labour Government. Moth-balled sites are springing into action; more homes are being planned; and more homes are being built out. Of course, there is more to do, and the initiatives in my earlier answer outline what we are doing. I would add that the policy solutions now being advocated by HM Opposition would actually have an adverse effect in reducing house building. If developers fear new development taxes or state confiscation of land, they will be less willing to undertake complex land assembly projects; they will let their existing planning permissions lapse; and they will simply be more cautious in applying for planning permission in the first place. The result would be a slower planning system and fewer new homes.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning appeals related to wind energy projects were recovered for a decision by the Secretary of State in each of the last five years.

Kris Hopkins: A recovery entails a planning appeal decision being made directly by Planning Ministers, rather than planning inspectors on behalf of the Secretary of State. Four appeals were recovered in 2010, five in 2011, 19 in 2012, 23 in 2013 and 11 in 2014. As outlined in previous Written Ministerial Statements, the recovery criteria was intentionally changed to consider recovering more appeals, following changes made to planning guidance to strengthen the protection of landscape and heritage assets.

Housing: Construction

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to bring forward housing development on sites where construction has been delayed.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 30 October 2014, Question UIN 207630.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to answer Question 219026, tabled on 16 December 2014 by the right hon. Member for Leeds Central.

Stephen Williams: Holding answer received on 22 January 2015



Question UIN 219026 was answered on 23 January 2015.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to answer Question 219025, tabled on 16 December 2014 by the right hon. Member for Leeds Central.

Stephen Williams: Holding answer received on 22 January 2015



Question UIN 219025 was answered on 23 January 2015.

Race Relations

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to promote tolerance of different minorities.

Stephen Williams: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Special Educational Needs

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the performance of local authorities in issuing within 26 weeks a special educational needs final statement; and whether his Department (a) supplies information to and (b) receives information from the Department for Education on that matter.

Kris Hopkins: The Department for Education has the lead responsibility for policy to help children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities. That responsibility extends to the collection and publication of relevant data. This collection of data is published regularly here: (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-special-educational-needs-sen). The data includes the percentage of statements issued within 26 weeks.

Legal Opinion

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter of 18 January 2015 to Muslim faith leaders, what recent discussions he has had with (a) LawWorks and (b) the Bar Pro Bono Unit on this matter.

Stephen Williams: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Legal Opinion

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter of 18 January 2015 to Muslim faith leaders, what assessment he has made of the capacity of (a) LawWorks and (b) the Bar Pro Bono Unit to provide free legal advice to organisations experiencing problems with preachers of hate.

Stephen Williams: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Legal Opinion

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter of 18 January 2015 to Muslim faith leaders, what assessment he has made of whether all organisations that are at risk of experiencing problems with preachers of hate would meet the eligibility criteria applied by (a) LawWorks and (b) the Bar Pro Bono Unit for providing free legal advice.

Stephen Williams: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wales Office

Water: Regulation

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of cross-border water regulation in England and Wales as it relates to domestic and commercial properties in England supplied by Welsh Water; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Crabb: The cross-border boundary for water regulation in England and Wales is complex. The Silk Commission acknowledged this in its second report.The Government is currently considering the recommendations made by the Commission as part of my commitment to reach a political consensus on the way forward on Welsh devolution. This includes the proposal to align the boundary for legislative competence for water with the national border. I will announce the outcome of this work by St David’s Day.

HM Treasury

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Richard Graham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reason is for the additional charge for payment of vehicle tax by direct debit over 12 or six monthly instalments; and for what purposes the funds from that additional charge are used.

Priti Patel: Motorists who buy a six month vehicle excise duty (VED) licence have historically paid a ten per cent surcharge.   The Government has introduced a direct debit scheme for the payment of VED, to allow families and businesses to spread their tax payments. Under the scheme, the surcharge has been halved to five per cent when the tax is paid by six monthly and monthly instalments. The retention of a surcharge prevents a loss in VED revenue which would otherwise need to be made up elsewhere, by either increasing other taxes or reducing the Government’s investment in public services.   All VED revenues are paid into the Consolidated Fund to support general expenditure on public services.   The Chancellor of the Exchequer keeps all taxes under review as part of the annual Budget process.

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many properties sold in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey attracted stamp duty land tax in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: The number of transactions that fall within the scope of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is published annually in September in respect to the previous tax year. This contains data at Parliamentary Constituency and Local Authority level.   The figures have been reproduced in the summary table below:   Summary of Stamp Duty Annual Publication EntriesNo. of TransactionsYearWorking PCSurrey County2009-20102212234112010-20112277240202011-20122022224692012-20132004223632013-2014270327327

Income Tax: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of how many people in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey pay less income tax in 2014-15 than in 2009-10.

Mr David Gauke: By 5th April 2015, this Government's increases in the personal allowance (for those born after 5 April 1948), is estimated to reduce the income tax liability of 26.1milion individuals. Of these, 3.67 million live in the South East region, this includes the county of Surrey and the Parliamentary Constituency of Woking.   These estimates are based on the 2011-12 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2014-15 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s November 2014 economic and fiscal outlook.   HMRC does not publish this information at county or constituency level for projection years.

Tax Allowances: Married People

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to introduce a transferable tax allowance between married couples.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government announced at Autumn Statement 2013 that we would introduce a new transferable tax allowance for married couples and civil partners. This was legislated for in Finance Bill 2014. It comes into effect from April 2015.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Housing: Energy

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will discuss with his counterparts in the devolved administrations the merits of a common formula for the Warm Home discount and grant schemes across all those administrations.

Amber Rudd: The Warm Home Discount Scheme operates to a single set of rules across Great Britain.The scheme does not apply in Northern Ireland as fuel poverty is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, which decides its own fuel poverty objectives and policies.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, on what date his Department plans to publish its response to the Warm Homes Discount: Extension to the 2015-16 consultation.

Amber Rudd: The draft Regulations relating to the extension of the Warm Home Discount to 2015/16 were laid in Parliament on 12th January. We intend to publish the consultation response later this month.

Northern Ireland Office

Passports: Republic of Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will discuss with the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes would be needed to ensure that Northern Ireland citizens born in the Republic of Ireland are able to apply for UK passports on the same terms as those under which Northern Ireland citizens are able to apply for Irish passports.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The Northern Ireland Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Sports: Folkestone

Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support Sport England has given to organisations in Folkestone and Hythe constituency since 2010.

Mrs Helen Grant: Since 2010 Sport England has invested £212,836 of National Lottery and Exchequer funding in 19 community sports projects in Folkestone and Hythe constituency.

Staff

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last five years.

Mrs Helen Grant: Holding answer received on 22 January 2015



a) Recruitment agency fees are contained within the invoices submitted by the agency, the rate of charge will vary depending on the individual candidate’s pay rates but this charge is not separately identified on the invoice hence the Department is unable to separate agency charges from the overall payment to the agency for each candidate. b) The total spent on outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff over the past 5 years is as follows:2014-15 £02013-14 £02012-13 £63,0002011-12 £02010-11 £63,000(Figures are inclusive of recoverable VAT) c) The total spent on Staff Training over the past 5 years is as follows:2014/15 £174,347**2013/14 £225,2892012/13 £133,1062011/12 £303,9752010/11 £392,484** current to 31st Dec 2014(Figures are net of recoverable VAT)

Deputy Prime Minister

Electoral Register: Young People

Mr David Ward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps his Department is taking to increase levels of individual electoral registration among (a) attainers and (b) students.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government announced on 9 January £9.8 million to help increase the accuracy of the electoral register. As part of this every Electoral Registration Officer in Great Britain will share £6.8 million to support their activities to increase voter registration, including students and attainers.Remaining funding will go to organisations that can support activities to register currently under registered groups, including students. This builds on the Government’s previous investment of £4.2 million for maximising registration in 2013/14.

Department of Health

Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with Sainsbury's as part of the Responsibility Deal.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with Aldi as part of the Responsibility Deal.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with Tesco as part of the Responsibility Deal.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with Morrisons as part of the Responsibility Deal.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with Waitrose as part of the Responsibility Deal.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with Lidl as part of the Responsibility Deal.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with ASDA as part of the Responsibility Deal.

Norman Lamb: As part of the voluntary partnership with industry, Departmental officials have had a number of discussions with all these supermarkets over the last year; with the exception of Asda and Waitrose, all within the last three months.

Cancer: Depressive Illnesses

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the (a) recovery and (b) mortality rates of cancer patients who (i) suffer and (ii) do not suffer from depression.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the (a) recovery and (b) mortality rates of patients who have had a heart attack who (i) suffer and (ii) do not suffer from depression.

Norman Lamb: The Department has made no estimate of the recovery or mortality rates of cancer patients or patients who have had a heart attack, who also experience depression.   The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence advises that treating depression in people with a chronic physical health problem has the potential to increase their quality of life and life expectancy. Depression often has a remitting and relapsing course, and symptoms may persist between episodes. Where possible, the key goal of an intervention for depression should be complete relief of symptoms (recovery) – this is associated with better functioning and a lower likelihood of relapse than lesser degrees of response, as well as potentially better physical health outcomes.   Over £400 million is being invested over the spending review period to make a choice of psychological therapies available for those who need them in all parts of England.   We are also investing in improving provision for children and young people, older people and carers, people from black minority and ethnic groups, people with severe mental illness and people with long-term physical health problems.   The Department’s 2014-15 Mandate to NHS England makes clear that ‘everyone who needs it should have timely access to evidence based services’, this includes services for people with depression. The Mandate sets a clear objective for NHS England to deliver the key objectives of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme – providing access to therapies for 15% of those eligible (around 900,000 people), with a recovery rate of 50%.   NHS England is also currently carrying out a pilot aimed at improving access to psychological therapies for people with long term conditions and/or medically unexplained symptoms including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke and other illnesses/disorders.   The refreshed Mandate to NHS England for 2015-16 makes clear that by March 2016 we expect NHS England to have made further measurable progress towards achieving true parity of esteem where everyone who needs it has timely access to evidenced based services that are better integrated with physical health services.

Mental Health Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the overall health budget was spent on psychological therapies in each of the last 10 years.

Norman Lamb: Information on the proportion of the overall health budget that was spent on psychological therapies in each of the last 10 years is not available.   The attached table shows the proportion of the overall health budget that was spent on psychological therapies from 2004/05 to 2011/12.   YearTotal NHS Budget in £millionNHS spend on psychological therapies in £million% of NHS Budget2004/0567,535 144.378 0.21%2005/0674,159 142.047 0.19%2006/0778,795 146.116 0.19%2007/0887,440 161.378 0.18%2008/0991,040 184.755 0.20%2009/1098,419292.308 0.30%2010/11100,418 355.821 0.35%2011/12102,844 388.9800.38% Source: NHS England   This includes spend on the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) programme and psychological therapies outside the IAPT programme.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which parliamentary constituencies are (a) completely and (b) partly within a clinical commissioning group area.

Jane Ellison: A list of which parliamentary constituencies are completely and partly within a clinical commissioning group area has been attached. 



Parliamentary constituencies within a CCG area
(Word Document, 43.7 KB)

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that hospitals in Greater Manchester meet the Government's A&E waiting time target.

Jane Ellison: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 23 January 2015.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets NHS England on a weekly basis and discusses a wide range of topics, including accident and emergency (A&E) performance data. Monitor, the Care Quality Commission, and the NHS Trust Development Authority also have oversight of trust A&E performance, and are involved in these meetings.   On the back of a strong economy the Government has made £700 million – the highest ever figure – available to the NHS specifically to help with winter pressures. The first tranche of this money was made available earlier than ever.   Local plans to spend this money provide for nearly 8,800 extra staff and almost 6,500 extra beds. Over £25 million is going towards increasing access to general practitioners (GPs), including later and weekend appointments. £50 million will help ambulance services meet rising demand for emergency cases and a separate fund of £250 million will support an extra 100,000 operations so people can be seen quicker and before they need to be admitted as an emergency case.   This money will also support a range of local initiatives to improve urgent and emergency care including seven day pharmacy services, improvements to NHS 111 and GP out of hours services, short stay units for elderly patients and improvements to hospital discharge processes.   Across Greater Manchester £30 million has been provided with local plans for this to fund over 70 doctors, 300 nurses and 200 extra beds. Clinical commissioning groups in Greater Manchester, as system leaders, are working with NHS England and local partners including local authorities to implement local winter initiatives.

Norman Lamb: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets NHS England on a weekly basis and discusses a wide range of topics, including accident and emergency (A&E) performance data. Monitor, the Care Quality Commission, and the NHS Trust Development Authority also have oversight of trust A&E performance, and are involved in these meetings.   On the back of a strong economy the Government has made £700 million – the highest ever figure – available to the NHS specifically to help with winter pressures. The first tranche of this money was made available earlier than ever.   Local plans to spend this money provide for nearly 8,800 extra staff and almost 6,500 extra beds. Over £25 million is going towards increasing access to general practitioners (GPs), including later and weekend appointments. £50 million will help ambulance services meet rising demand for emergency cases and a separate fund of £250 million will support an extra 100,000 operations so people can be seen quicker and before they need to be admitted as an emergency case.   This money will also support a range of local initiatives to improve urgent and emergency care including seven day pharmacy services, improvements to NHS 111 and GP out of hours services, short stay units for elderly patients and improvements to hospital discharge processes.   Across Greater Manchester £30 million has been provided with local plans for this to fund over 70 doctors, 300 nurses and 200 extra beds. Clinical commissioning groups in Greater Manchester, as system leaders, are working with NHS England and local partners including local authorities to implement local winter initiatives.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities in Greater Manchester on increased attendances in A&E over the winter and delayed discharges.

Jane Ellison: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 23 January 2015.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets NHS England on a weekly basis and discusses a wide range of topics, including accident and emergency (A&E) performance data. Monitor, the Care Quality Commission, and the NHS Trust Development Authority also have oversight of trust A&E performance, and are involved in these meetings.   On the back of a strong economy the Government has made £700 million – the highest ever figure – available to the NHS specifically to help with winter pressures. The first tranche of this money was made available earlier than ever.   Local plans to spend this money provide for nearly 8,800 extra staff and almost 6,500 extra beds. Over £25 million is going towards increasing access to general practitioners (GPs), including later and weekend appointments. £50 million will help ambulance services meet rising demand for emergency cases and a separate fund of £250 million will support an extra 100,000 operations so people can be seen quicker and before they need to be admitted as an emergency case.   This money will also support a range of local initiatives to improve urgent and emergency care including seven day pharmacy services, improvements to NHS 111 and GP out of hours services, short stay units for elderly patients and improvements to hospital discharge processes.   Across Greater Manchester £30 million has been provided with local plans for this to fund over 70 doctors, 300 nurses and 200 extra beds. Clinical commissioning groups in Greater Manchester, as system leaders, are working with NHS England and local partners including local authorities to implement local winter initiatives.

Norman Lamb: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets NHS England on a weekly basis and discusses a wide range of topics, including accident and emergency (A&E) performance data. Monitor, the Care Quality Commission, and the NHS Trust Development Authority also have oversight of trust A&E performance, and are involved in these meetings.   On the back of a strong economy the Government has made £700 million – the highest ever figure – available to the NHS specifically to help with winter pressures. The first tranche of this money was made available earlier than ever.   Local plans to spend this money provide for nearly 8,800 extra staff and almost 6,500 extra beds. Over £25 million is going towards increasing access to general practitioners (GPs), including later and weekend appointments. £50 million will help ambulance services meet rising demand for emergency cases and a separate fund of £250 million will support an extra 100,000 operations so people can be seen quicker and before they need to be admitted as an emergency case.   This money will also support a range of local initiatives to improve urgent and emergency care including seven day pharmacy services, improvements to NHS 111 and GP out of hours services, short stay units for elderly patients and improvements to hospital discharge processes.   Across Greater Manchester £30 million has been provided with local plans for this to fund over 70 doctors, 300 nurses and 200 extra beds. Clinical commissioning groups in Greater Manchester, as system leaders, are working with NHS England and local partners including local authorities to implement local winter initiatives.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Monitor, the Care Quality Commission and NHS England on hospitals in Greater Manchester which have not met the Government's A&E waiting time target.

Jane Ellison: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 23 January 2015.The correct answer should have been:

My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets NHS England on a weekly basis and discusses a wide range of topics, including accident and emergency (A&E) performance data. Monitor, the Care Quality Commission, and the NHS Trust Development Authority also have oversight of trust A&E performance, and are involved in these meetings.   On the back of a strong economy the Government has made £700 million – the highest ever figure – available to the NHS specifically to help with winter pressures. The first tranche of this money was made available earlier than ever.   Local plans to spend this money provide for nearly 8,800 extra staff and almost 6,500 extra beds. Over £25 million is going towards increasing access to general practitioners (GPs), including later and weekend appointments. £50 million will help ambulance services meet rising demand for emergency cases and a separate fund of £250 million will support an extra 100,000 operations so people can be seen quicker and before they need to be admitted as an emergency case.   This money will also support a range of local initiatives to improve urgent and emergency care including seven day pharmacy services, improvements to NHS 111 and GP out of hours services, short stay units for elderly patients and improvements to hospital discharge processes.   Across Greater Manchester £30 million has been provided with local plans for this to fund over 70 doctors, 300 nurses and 200 extra beds. Clinical commissioning groups in Greater Manchester, as system leaders, are working with NHS England and local partners including local authorities to implement local winter initiatives.

Norman Lamb: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets NHS England on a weekly basis and discusses a wide range of topics, including accident and emergency (A&E) performance data. Monitor, the Care Quality Commission, and the NHS Trust Development Authority also have oversight of trust A&E performance, and are involved in these meetings.   On the back of a strong economy the Government has made £700 million – the highest ever figure – available to the NHS specifically to help with winter pressures. The first tranche of this money was made available earlier than ever.   Local plans to spend this money provide for nearly 8,800 extra staff and almost 6,500 extra beds. Over £25 million is going towards increasing access to general practitioners (GPs), including later and weekend appointments. £50 million will help ambulance services meet rising demand for emergency cases and a separate fund of £250 million will support an extra 100,000 operations so people can be seen quicker and before they need to be admitted as an emergency case.   This money will also support a range of local initiatives to improve urgent and emergency care including seven day pharmacy services, improvements to NHS 111 and GP out of hours services, short stay units for elderly patients and improvements to hospital discharge processes.   Across Greater Manchester £30 million has been provided with local plans for this to fund over 70 doctors, 300 nurses and 200 extra beds. Clinical commissioning groups in Greater Manchester, as system leaders, are working with NHS England and local partners including local authorities to implement local winter initiatives.

Health Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) adults and (b) children with (i) diabetes, (ii) anxiety disorder, (iii) depression, (iv) schizophrenia, (v) personality disorder, (vi) alcohol dependence and (vii) hard drug dependency who were untreated in each of the last 10 years.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of patients with mental illness who prefer to be treated by (a) drug and (b) talking therapies.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have waited for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies interventions for more than (a) 28, (b) 90 and (c) 180 days in each clinical commissioning group area.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of patients with a mental illness receive (a) drug, (b) talking and (c) mindfulness therapy.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the number of people his Department estimates suffer from mental illness are being treated by the NHS.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to expand the use of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies to include people with (a) co-morbid physical illness, (b) schizophrenia and other near psychotic problems and (c) older people.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what powers (a) he has and (b) members of the public have to require clinical commissioning groups to improve access to psychological therapies.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of time GPs spend with patients who have a mental illness.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether there is a cap on the number of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies sessions for each patient.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time is for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies interventions.

Norman Lamb: Over £400 million is being invested in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) programme over the spending review period to make a choice of psychological therapies available for those who need them in all parts of England.   We are also investing in improving provision for children and young people, older people and carers, people with long-term physical health problems and those with severe mental illness.   Since 2008 the IAPT programme has seen over 2.6 million people enter treatment, and over 1.5 million complete treatment. In addition, over 1 million patients have reached recovery and we have seen 90,000 people move off of sick pay and benefits. The IAPT programme has worked consistently to increase the numbers of older people accessing services, and latest figures suggest that numbers are improving.   To increase the numbers of older people the IAPT programme has supported an advertising campaign delivered through Age UK and Carers UK to ensure older people are aware that IAPT is for them. In addition, a curriculum has been developed and is being rolled out to train both existing IAPT staff and new IAPT staff to work better with older people.   Other innovative approaches to working with older people include Government support to the Alzheimer’s Society to develop online cognitive behavioural therapy for carers of people with dementia. The online resource is in place and ethical approval is being sort prior to clinical trials which started in 2014.   The Severe Mental Illness (SMI) workstream has been added to the IAPT programme to extend the benefits of improved equitable access to psychological therapies to people with SMI, including those with schizophrenia.   This workstream will work closely with secondary care mental health services, local commissioners and providers to document the benefits of access to talking therapies for people who have a SMI. They will lead the development of Patient Reported Outcome Measures for SMI and Personality Disorder who receive talking therapies, and work with professional organisations to develop more appropriate and deliverable care pathways, and determine gaps in current approaches.   NHS England is also currently carrying out a pilot aimed at improving access to psychological therapies for people with long term conditions and/or medically unexplained symptoms including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke and other illnesses/disorders.   There is no cap on the number of IAPT sessions for each person. NHS England expects clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and providers to have due regard to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and in some cases therapy may exceed 20 sessions in duration.   No estimate has been made by the Department of the proportion of adults or children with diabetes, anxiety disorder, depression, schizophrenia and personality disorder who were untreated in each of the last 10 years.   The most recent drug prevalence estimates suggest that there were 256,153 opiate users in England in 2011-12, of these 62% received treatment in the same year. The equivalent proportions for the preceding years, where there is both prevalence and treatment data, are 2006-07 – 49%; 2008-09 – 64%; 2009-10 – 63%; 2010-11 – 64%. This proportion of opiate users being treated is considered a very high rate internationally – and is a platform for significant public health gains.   No estimate has been made of the proportion of adults or children with alcohol dependency who were untreated in each of the last 10 years. However, it is estimated that 1.6 million adults show some signs of alcohol dependence; around 250,000 of whom are estimated to be moderately to severely dependent and might benefit from specialist treatment. Using this later figure, about 44% of these dependent adult drinkers were in treatment in England in 2013-14. Continued investment in alcohol treatment by local authorities is essential to make inroads into the alcohol dependent population and to help more people recover from alcohol problems.   Achieving Better Access to Mental Health Services by 2020, published October 2014, articulates our ambition and the immediate actions we will take this year and next to achieve better access and waiting times in mental health services. It includes the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies commitment of treatment within six weeks for 75% of people with 95% of people being treated within 18 weeks.   For the year 2013-14 the mean waiting time for IAPT services was 40 (days) and the median was 21 (days). Information on the number of referrals waiting more than 28, 90 and 180 days for IAPT services, for each CCG, for the year 2013-14, is attached.   No estimate has been made of the proportion of time general practitioners (GPs) spend with patients who have a mental illness.   From September 2014, over 800,000 people with the most complex health and care needs (including mental health conditions) will benefit from the Proactive Care Programme, receiving personalised, joined-up care and support, tailored to their needs. This is being delivered through an enhanced service to the GP contract. NHS England is working with commissioners to make mental health a bigger priority, with better integration of physical and mental health care. Improving the diagnosis of mental illness is one of four national goals for 2014-15 – where providers will be rewarded for better assessing and treating the mental and physical needs of their service users, through the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation framework.   We do not centrally hold information on the proportion of patients with a mental illness that receive drug, talking or mindfulness therapy.   The table below shows information on the number of referrals received, entering treatment and finishing a course of treatment, within IAPT services for 2013-14.   Referrals received Referrals entering treatmentReferrals with a finished course of treatment.1,118,990709,117364,343   Data source: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Dataset   There were 53,326.6 prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community, in England, for medicines classified as anti-depressants in British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.3 Antidepressant drugs, for the calendar year 2013.   The Department has not estimated the proportion or number of the people estimated to experience a mental illness who are being treated by the National Health Service.   No estimate has been made by the Department of the proportion of patients with mental illness who prefer to be treated by drug therapy or talking therapies.   The Department’s 2014-15 Mandate to NHS England makes clear that ‘everyone who needs it should have timely access to evidence based services’. The Mandate sets a clear objective for NHS England to deliver the key objectives of the IAPT programme – providing access to therapies to 15% of those eligible (around 900,000 people), with a recovery rate of 50%.   The Outcomes Framework for the NHS in England clearly states that the NHS should carry on expanding access to psychological services as part of the IAPT programme.   The Government holds the NHS to account by setting objectives in the NHS England Mandate and monitoring their delivery through the NHS Outcomes Framework.   If NHS England is failing to deliver against its objectives, Ministers can ask NHS England to report on what action it has taken, or to set out a plan for improvement.   CCG commissioning plans, including for mental health, should be informed by the content of their local Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which should address the needs of their local population. In addition, Health and Wellbeing Boards must include local Healthwatch as part of their core membership, Healthwatch represent the concerns and interests of local people- in their role as champions of the population. 



IAPT waiting times for each CCG in 2013-14
(Excel SpreadSheet, 46.9 KB)

NHS: Finance

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the letter of 15 January 2015 from him and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to the local authorities concerning additional health funding, to which local authorities the letter was sent; and which local authorities have confirmed they will accept the offered funding.

Norman Lamb: In total, 65 local authorities received the letter informing them of additional funding. All of them accepted the offer of this funding.   These local authorities are listed below:   Local AuthorityAllocation (£)Local AuthorityAllocation (£)Barking & Dagenham325,000Manchester325,000Barnet425,000Milton Keynes UA325,000Bath & North East Somerset UA325,000North East Lincolnshire UA325,000Bexley325,000North Lincolnshire UA325,000Birmingham520,000Northamptonshire520,000Bournemouth UA325,000Oxfordshire520,000Bracknell Forest UA325,000Plymouth UA325,000Brent325,000Poole UA325,000Bristol UA425,000Reading UA325,000Cambridgeshire520,000Richmond Upon Thames325,000Camden325,000Sandwell325,000Central Bedfordshire325,000Sheffield425,000Cheshire East425,000Shropshire425,000Coventry325,000Solihull325,000Dorset520,000Somerset520,000Dudley425,000South Gloucestershire UA325,000Ealing325,000Southampton UA325,000Gateshead325,000Staffordshire520,000Hackney325,000Suffolk520,000Hammersmith & Fulham325,000Sutton325,000Hampshire520,000Swindon UA325,000Haringey325,000Telford & Wrekin UA325,000Hertfordshire520,000Trafford325,000Hounslow325,000Walsall325,000Islington325,000Warrington UA325,000Kensington & Chelsea325,000Warwickshire520,000Kent520,000West Berkshire UA325,000Lambeth325,000Westminster325,000Lancashire520,000Wiltshire425,000Leeds520,000Wokingham UA325,000Leicester UA325,000Worcestershire520,000Leicestershire520,000York UA325,000Luton UA325,000

NHS: Finance

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the letter of 15 January 2015 from him and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to local authorities concerning additional health funding, what the total amount will be of additional funding made available to local authorities through the ring-fenced grant referred to in that letter.

Norman Lamb: The Department has made £25 million available to support councils to reduce delayed transfers of care attributable to social care through a ring-fenced grant.   65 local authorities in total will receive funding. The proportion of the £25 million they received is determined by the size of their local population over 65 years of age.

Eyesight: Children

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the recommendation on the NHS Choices website that all children are offered vision screening between the ages of four and five by an orthoptist-led service, if he will introduce a national vision screening programme for children.

Norman Lamb: The UK National Screening Committee recommends that all children between 4 - 5 years of age should continue to be screened for vision defects by an orthoptist led service.   This service is already offered nationally as part of the NHS Healthy Child Programme.

Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust

Mr Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to pages five and six of the summary of findings of the Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust Quality Report  of 9 January 2015, if he will publish the full list of organisations which were asked to share what they know about that hospital.

Norman Lamb: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. The CQC is responsible for developing and implementing its methodology for assessing whether providers are meeting the registration requirements through its inspection and monitoring of providers. The CQC has provided the following information:   Pages five and six of CQC’s inspection report for Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust outline the background of the Trust, including additional statistical data. These pages also include detail of the composition of the CQC inspection team and the specifics of how it carried out this inspection. This includes a list of organisations that hold data about the trust that CQC share information with.   Although listed in the report, The Royal College of Radiologists was not contacted prior to this inspection. The CQC is always happy to be contacted by the Royal Colleges at any time if they do have concerns about an inspection report. Monitor was erroneously listed in the report as being contacted, in place of the NHS Trust Development Authority. This error will be corrected in an addendum to the report.   Before inspecting the Trust, CQC reviewed a range of information it held, and asked other organisations to share what they knew about the hospital. The organisations CQC contacted were: the General Medical Council, the Health and Care Professionals Council, Health Education England, National Peer Review Programme, NHS England (relevant national and local teams), NHS Litigation Authority, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, the College of Emergency Medicine, the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Surgeons, local authorities, the NHS Trust Development Authority, local clinical commissioning groups and the local Healthwatch.   CQC contacts a range of organisations before each inspection and will tailor which organisations are contacted depending on the sector of the inspection and the data sources that are already available.

Eating Disorders

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he takes to ensure that all patients assessed as requiring inpatient treatment for eating disorders are admitted; and what criteria are used to decide whether a patient requires inpatient treatment for such disorders.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England (a) currently and (b) since the establishment of that body has operated a moratorium on the commissioning of additional funded beds for inpatient eating disorder treatment.

Norman Lamb: There has been no moratorium on commissioning. NHS England is unable to generally introduce ‘new’ permanent provision without going through a fair and transparent process letting all organisations who wish to provide that service respond to the transparent process. Before introducing any permanent changes in service provision of this kind, all commissioners of care undergo a fair and transparent process open to all potential providers of care. This is fair to those who provide services, and to ensure National Health Service patients are served by the most capable provider who meets the requisite standards of quality for patients and provide value for taxpayers in line with statutory requirements on all commissioners overseen by the healthcare regulator.   NHS England is able to contract additional beds to meet any emergency need for services that they are responsible for commissioning (in line with Monitor’s expectations). Some contracts are flexible, allowing expansion when the need arises. Information on such “flexed” additional beds is not held centrally.   As far as the provision of inpatient treatment is concerned, the assessment process leads to a clinical decision set against the national specification to ensure that those who are within the criteria are admitted if appropriate and that no viable alternative is available to maintain independent living, such as outreach or day services. It is a clinical decision in all cases to admit and to ensure that a care pathway that meets the assessed needs of the individual is followed.   The NHS England Service Specification and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines can be found here:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/c01-spec-eat-dis.pdf https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg9

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have been treated with the gamma knife at University Hospital, Bristol, since it opened in October 2013; and whether NHS England approved those patients' treatment through individual funding requests.

Jane Ellison: University Hospital Bristol has advised that it has treated the following number of patients with gamma knife since it opened in October 2013:   Time periodNumber of patients2013-14 (October 2013 – March 2014)952014-15 (April 2014 – December 2014)148Total243   Gamma knife is delivered as one treatment per patient. As these patients were all treated under NHS England commissioning policies, individual funding requests were not required.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the minimum number of annual procedures NHS England requires hospitals to deliver before they are allowed to treat cancer patients with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy.

Jane Ellison: NHS England’s radiotherapy service specification states that providers of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy must serve a minimum population of 2 million and treat 25 cases per year. It should be noted that a range of other factors could also influence the outcome of these discussions, including referral pathways and quality requirements.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ensure that all stakeholder submissions to NHS England's review into stereotactic radiosurgery are made available to the public.

Jane Ellison: All feedback received via the online consultation for NHS England's Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Services Needs Assessment and Service Review will be collated and summarised and a report of the consultation findings will be considered by the Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group.   NHS England will publish a report outlining the key themes of the consultation findings on its website.